Dark garnet and saturated crimson in the glass, this Merlot-dominant blend leads with a layered nose of fresh plum orchard, maduro cigar wrapper, marionberry, graphite, and a touch of fruit punch. The palate offers dark berries- black currant and wild mountain blackberry- interwoven with violet candy, vanilla bean paste, and grenadine. Remarkably lithe despite its overt fruit density, it marries power with pure class, concluding on a woodsy finish of cedar, forest duff, and earthy mushroominess.
Add to Cart $98Labeled Appellation
Varietal(s)
59% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vinification
Fermented for 14 days in oak, with the must left on skins for 30 days of extended maceration. Aged 23 Months in 100% new French oak.
Alcohol
15.1%
Cases Produced
397
Vintage Notes
The 2023 Matthews Reserve Cuvée is comprised of several vineyard parcels across the greater Columbia Valley. Key sites are on Red Mountain (Two of Us, Quintessence, Angela’s, Shaw), the Royal Slope (Solaksen), the Horse Heaven Hills (Wallula Gap, Phinny Hill) and Conner Lee Vineyard, allowing this wine to capture the broad flavor and aromatic expression of a Merlot-dominant blend from the diverse terroirs of the Columbia Valley.
After several vintages marked by extremes, 2023 brought a welcome return to normalcy in Washington State. Typical yields, steady ripening, and a more predictable harvest timeline allowed the growing season to unfold with relatively little drama. Warm summer conditions were followed by moderate fall days and cool nights, slowing sugar accumulation while allowing flavors, tannins, and phenolics to continue developing. For our vineyard and winemaking teams, that consistency offered the luxury of harvesting based on flavor and maturity rather than weather pressure. Fruit for the Reserve Cuvée was hand-harvested throughout October 2023.
At the winery, the fruit was fermented in oak for 14 days, followed by extended maceration, with the must remaining on the skins for a total of 30 days to build depth, structure, and concentration. The wine was then aged for 23 months in 100% new French oak. After aging, just 16 barrels were selected and carefully blended, yielding a mere 397 cases. The wine was bottled on September 25, 2025.
The resulting wine reflects the balance and ease of the 2023 growing season: concentrated and structured, yet vibrant and composed, with the freshness and depth to evolve beautifully in the cellar.
The final blend: 59% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
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